A pensioner with a debilitating foot condition has been left “absolutely lost” after his mobility scooter was stolen from the side of the road.

John Turner, 77, who lives near Canterbury, suffers from oedema, which causes fluid to collect in his feet, making them hugely swollen and difficult to walk upon.

As a result, he uses a trusty mobility scooter to make a daily eight-mile-round journey from his retirement home in Bridge to Canterbury city centre - so he can shop, socialise and get fresh air.

But the £2,300 vehicle was stolen within an hour of Mr Turner being forced to abandon it on the A2050 after its battery ran flat.

“A young lady and her mother stopped in a car, and asked if they could help,” he explained. “I said they didn’t have to. Usually I leave it 30 minutes and it recharges and I can push myself around with my walking stick.

“The scooter wouldn’t fit in the car, but she grabbed me and my two bags of shopping and brought me home.”

But when Mr Turner caught a bus back to collect his scooter less than an hour later, he was devastated to find it had gone.

“It was so out of the way, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I find it hard to balance, and I had to call the police and say ‘if you don’t pick me up, I’ll fall over’.

“The scooter weighed about 300lbs. It wouldn’t fit in a car, but two people with a van would have had no trouble.

“They’re not cheap. Whoever took it probably planned to sell it, or even sell the batteries from inside.”

The pensioner says he is now unable to make his daily trips to the city.

“I’m fortunate enough to have another scooter - I had an accident recently so it’s a bit patched up, but I would charge one overnight while I used the other. You wear the one scooter out otherwise, taking it a long distance every day.

“They’re not cheap. Whoever took it probably planned to sell it, or even sell the batteries from inside.”- Mr Turner

“I don’t go out every day now. I get the bus if I have to - I can get a taxi but it’s ever so expensive.”

Police say they are investigating the theft of Mr Turner’s vehicle - a black Sterling Diamond model with a green foot well - which was taken on the afternoon of August 17.

“I’d like to know who took it,” he said. “They don’t know what it means to me. I’m absolutely lost without that scooter, but they don’t care.

“I just hope when they get to my age they have trouble getting about on dodgy legs, and they realise what they’ve done.”

Anyone with information regarding the theft is asked to call police on 01843 222289 quoting 46/165565/19.

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